Removable jacket for spark-plug electrodes



June 2, f9 2i5`fN Y w. F. LAUTENscHLAGl-:R 1'540137 REMOVABLE JACKET FOR SPARK PLUG ELEGTRODES Filed ngt s. 1921 l whereby the said electrodes are prevented Patented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT@ orties.

WILLIAM r. LAUTENSCHLAGER, on ciivcrnrra'ifr,` oirro.

nnMovABLE JACKET non sPARKrLUG nnnc'rnonns.

Application filed August 8, 1921 Serial No. 490,668.

llo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TILLTAM F. LAUTEN- soi-ILAGER, a citizen of the United States, re siding at Cincinnati, in the county of I-Iamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Removable Jackets for Spark-Plug Electrodes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to jackets adapted to be placed over the electrodes of sparkplugs,

from being burnt away.

Heretofore, electrodes of' spark plugs have been burnt away by the heat of the spark. The continued passageof the spark heats these electrodes to a high temperature `as they do not possess sufficient radiating surface. The electrodes therefore retain their heat and in a short time become red hot.r In this condition a high tension electric spark rapidly burns away the metal, whereby the life of a spark plug is greatlyv decreased.

It is the object of my invention to increase the life of the spark plugs; further, to pro vide jackets adapted to be placed about the electrodes o-f spark plugs whereby the same are prevented from being worn away and the life of the spark plug increased; further, to provide increased radiating surfaces for the electrodes `whereby the same are keptl in a comparatively cool conditiongvfurther,

` to so construct the jackets to be capable of rotation and present new spark surfaces, whereby theproper length of the-spark gap is maintained; further, to provide a means of holding the jackets on theelectrodes ;-further, to provide `a ready and convenient means of placing the jackets on the electrodes; and further, to providev a ymeans whereby the jackets may be readily and cheaply manufactured.

My invention consists in the provision of a jacket adapted to be placed aboutthe electrodes ofy a spark plug; further, in the construction of the jacket by lforming the same of coiled wire; further, in means whereby increased radiating surface is obtained; further, in means whereby the jackets are held on the electrodes; further, in means whereby new spark surfaces may be presented in order to maintain a spark gap of proper length; further, in means whereby a number of jackets may be formed in a continuous length whenmanufactured; further, in means to enable the jackets to be placed on the electrodes and afterwards readily broken off of suchcontinuous length of jackets.

My invention further consists in the parts, combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction, as herein set forth and claimed.

In the drawing:

\ Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved device;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the upper end of an internal combustion engine having `a'spark plug therein,to whichmy improved device is applied;

Y Fig. 3 is abotto-m view ofl a spark plug having my improved device thereon;

Fig. Lfis a central vertical section of the same taken on'the line 4-4 ofFig. y3;

Fig. 5 is a centralvertical section of the device shown in Fig. Spartly broke-n away and taken in a plane similarfto that of Fig. l but showing the parts very much enlarged;

j Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a number of.

the jackets suiicient to equip the spark plugs of a six cylinder engine, shown integral in one1 length preparatory to being applied; an

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, showing the manner in which my improved device is applied to the electrodes of a spark plug.

vIn the embodiment of my invention as illustrated, a cylinder 10` of an'internal combustion engine 11 has therein a spark plug 12, comprising an outer shell 13 and in inner electrode 14 insulated. from theA outer shell by an insulating tube 15. A spark electrode 16is secured to the outer jacket 13 adapted to coactwith the inner electrode 14. to form a spark gap 17 The upper end of the inner electrode may be connected by suitable Vcables tov ignition devices not hereshown, be-y cause well understood. The outer jacket 13 forms one terminal of a high tension circuit, and the inner electrode 14 forms the other terminal of the high tension circuit. When the ignition devices are actuated, .an electric current of high potential is set up in the circuit and bridgesthe spark gap 17, whereby a high'tension spark is formed therein and the gases in therengine cylinder red.

In order that the electrodes will not be subject to the deteriorating eii'ect of the spark discharge, jackets 18 are adaptedto be placed thereabout. These jackets comprise helical coils of wire 19, having ventilating spaces 20 therebetween. The internal diameterl of `they coils @are h,preferably slightly smaller than thev diameter olf tl'e electrodes, so that when the jackets are placed thereon, they will be held in place by springtension. L

I prefer to orni'the coils when manufactured in one continuous length, and then cut the same into suclrleugths containing such numbers ol' jackets as will correspond to 'the .'ntiinber .of =ej`rlindeis in fthe engines, the spark iplug in each cjlind'er lrequiaing two jackets. (See Fig. 6.) For fin'stance, for :af lour 'cylinder engine thejaoh'ets'are integrzlly lorned in lengths jnu'mbering eghtijackets, and for six cylinder engines a length contained twelve jacke-ts, ,anellsoon At points where the several' jitcket's lalre f joined, I :prefer to'fscore 'the saine. forlin- Stance, by a thin einery wheel, fasshown at 2l. llhisscoringcuts part of the ineta'flo' the coilsawaly atfthisxpartieularlpoint which readily :permits 1rthe ,@jckets `[to 'be Yatft'erwards severed from the mainflength j ln placing the :jackets "on the electrodes v the lengthfof tllejackets is ih'el'd in fthe .hand

and the aend jacket 'screwed'gon in stlie Vdirection of the ile'ad o-theflielcalscols; Fllt will theelectrodesztightly for the Treason' 'that their internal diameters are slightly smaller than thev diameters' o- :the electrodes, 'the .coils footing st'ietion'lly is :a ilscrew. Y

When ethe :jackets @have Yonce fbee'n lput tin have beenjscored'ftlus #severing the ijaoket t'roin the-'inain length.

In iuse lthe fspa'i-'k` Vw1-ll epass froin'fthe "colls j lectrodes. The 1electrodes'"theIhselves will notfbe Subj ectl to *We'ar' or rinjunyfin enlanner ras'the spark' :passes only {bet-Ween fthe the-.coils 19 through the .espaces 2Q, preventifgscalling thereof and lthie consfequentwearing away of the metal.

After a period of use, however, portions the 'c'o'il will Ebecolne 'slightly worn away or corroded whereupon is only necessary to turn the jackets slightly in the direction l'of the lead offthecoils, so as to present new surfaces between which the spark may pass. This may he repea'ted'atuntenValgamtil' the coils Fol3 the' jackets becoine Worn, a fterwhich new jackets inay be fslipfped ,over lthe electrodes; e fInlth'i-sniafnner the ele'crodes lol the sperk :pluglieeoniie Gpraotioally iin'de'- structible and the 'life of fthe spark :plug iis thereby prolong'ed indefinitely. vIn 'no case where :any Iijnuplfc'ived dewi'ce is employed, is it necessary fto'discard a fspank plug 'because otworn!electrodes. y

do 'not limit myself to the lparti'cular construction, as hereinffshown,but canje-1n-v p'loy a. cylindrical :body capable el K'exerting sulcientspiiing tension on wheelectrotlesito 'hold 'it 'n'place .fIKt fisfturtlier possible to employ `wire of square vor 'rectangular cross section iin "forming ith-e coils. @Amyfother :torni of .jackets nnay 'be employed cripable'ol' bengslppedovertheielectrodes witihoutfde- .parting in any manner fnoni'the spirit of myunwention vwithin the -`scope yof rtheajz pendelfclaiins. Y C Vhat I claim as newl and desire to tsecure :by 'llztters :Patent 'is z fl'. In" .a spark zplug, a ipair idf electrodes lui-yingl'reeientls and 1 disposed at va-rrange to-'feach othe'1r,ffaf eolledjfgprirng neinber drietionally h'eldon the'lfree end of each*electrede adafptedf to forln sspark *and Y said Lcoiledsprnlg unenlbersrhaving :an'iinside diameter slightly lle'ss Ythan fthe outside diameter Y of said electrodes, A'substantially as des`e1fibed'-'.

y spark plug, a'spair of=e1eotrodes hving filreeelnds alid'at rightangles {torea'ch other, coiled wire spring vri'ieinbers-1ra-ving an inside dia-meter 4slightly less thanfsaid electrodes A.and ffricti-onally he'l'don :sai-d ends, respectiirely, and'v spaced apaI-'ftfroin feaeh other 'whereby =a spark :ga-p is formed `and sui-d spiilrgflneinbersare adapted to"'becol1 veniently removed froinan'd:plaoed on said lectrodes,y :substantially as described andv for'l the ipurposes specified.

WILLIAM LAUTENSGHLAGER. 

